The Wrath of Grapes - ASPCApro

The Wrath of Grapes

by Charlotte Means, D.V.M.

Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into

some sticky situations. Usually, his escapades were harmless. But one day,

he managed to snag a box of raisins from the pantry and ended up eating an

entire pound of the sweet treats. Other than being exasperated by Magoo's

behavior, his guardians didn't think much about it. They knew that lots of

people shared grapes with their dogs and often used raisins as training

rewards. So it hardly seemed the kind of emergency that required a call to

the veterinarian. In fact, if Magoo's parents had called the ASPCA's Animal

Poison Control Center (APCC) just a few years ago, they would have been

told not to worry about it.

Through the Grapevine

Enter the APCC AnToxTM database, a computerized system that contains

nearly 500,000 animal-related medical conditions and that enables veterinarians to quickly identify toxicsubstance exposures, recognize clinical signs and administer proper treatment. By tracking cases in this

registry, similarities in animal medical conditions nationwide can be logged and syndromes can be

identified.

Around 1989, the APCC began noticing a trend in dogs who had eaten grapes or raisins: Nearly all

developed acute renal (kidney) failure. As more cases were reported, enough data was generated in the

database to help veterinarians identify and treat dogs at risk. In all of the cases, the ingredients for

potential acute renal failure were the same. Whether the ingested grapes were purchased fresh from

grocery stores or grown in private yards didn't seem to matter, nor did the brand eaten. And the ingested

amounts varied considerably, from over a pound of grapes to as little as a single serving of raisins. The

cases weren't from any specific region, but instead came from across the United States.

The database showed that dogs who ate the grapes and raisins typically vomited within a few hours of

ingestion. Most of the time, partially digested grapes and raisins could be seen in the vomit, fecal

material, or both. At this point, some dogs would stop eating (anorexia), and develop diarrhea. The dogs

often became quiet and lethargic, and showed signs of abdominal pain. These clinical signs lasted for

several days -- sometimes even weeks.

When medical care was sought, blood chemistry panels showed consistent patterns. Hypercalcemia

(elevated blood calcium levels) was frequently present, as well as elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen,

creatinine and phosphorous (substances that reflect kidney function). These chemistries began to increase

anywhere from 24 hours to several days after the dogs ate the fruit. As the kidney damage developed, the

dogs would produce little urine. When they could no longer produce urine, death occurred. In some

cases, dogs who received timely veterinary care still had to be euthanized.

Why did the fruit cause the dogs to become ill? No one knows. Suspect grapes and raisins have been

screened for various pesticides, heavy metals (such as zinc or lead), and mycotoxins (fungal

contaminants) and so far, all results have come back negative. In the cases where the grapes were grown

in private yards, owners confirmed that no insecticides, fertilizers or antifungals had been used on the

fruit.

"Raisin" the Success Rate

Even though the exact cause of the renal failure is unknown, dogs who ingest grapes and raisins can be

treated successfully to prevent its development. The first line of defense is decontamination. Inducing

vomiting in recent ingestions and administering activated charcoal helps prevent absorption of potential

toxins. Dogs should be hospitalized and placed on intravenous fluids for a minimum of 48 hours. A

veterinarian should monitor blood chemistry daily for at least three days following the ingestion. If all

blood work is normal after three days, it's unlikely that kidney failure will occur. If a dog shows evidence

of renal failure, fluids must be continued, and other medications should be used to stimulate urine

production. Some dogs may need peritoneal dialysis, a process where the peritoneum (the membranes

surrounding the abdominal organs) is used to filter waste products that are normally filtered by the

kidney.

Thanks in part to the AnTox database, grape or raisin ingestion can be easily identified and treated.

Today, a dog can make a complete recovery from this potentially fatal condition.

Dr. Means is a veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Illinois.

Reprinted from ASPCA Animal Watch, Summer 2002, Volume 22, Number 2, with permission from The American Society

for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128-6804.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the only animal poison control

center in North America. Established in 1978, at the University of Illinois College of

Veterinary Medicine. The Center is the only facility of its kind. Located in Urbana,

Illinois, the specially trained staff provides assistance to pet owners and specific diagnostic and treatment

recommendations to veterinarians. In 2001, the Center handled over 65,000 cases.

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